
We’re mid-way through the final week of reporting season, sprinting to the finish line and a much-needed weekend rest from acres of PDFs and colourful company presentations.
It was Coles’ turn yesterday. Today we get a look at Woolworths’ books to see if it can retain the crown and remain Australia’s biggest grocer.
Also stepping up to present today are Richard White’s WiseTech Global, Domino’s Pizza, DroneShield, Nickel Industries, Lovisa, Perseus Mining, Flight Centre, Paladin Energy and The Koala Company.
Stay with us for all the updates throughout the day.
Key Events
Bargain hunting now ‘entrenched’ among Woolies shoppers
Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell says value-seeking shopping behaviour is now “entrenched” as households cope with higher cost-of-living pressures.
“For three years now, we’ve been talking about the pressure on household budgets. We’ve moved beyond a temporary phase into a new reality of entrenched value-seeking,” Ms Bardwell told media as she unveiled Woolworths’ full-year results on Wednesday.
“Customers have developed money-saving habits to stretch their weekly shopping as far as possible. Lower shelf price and everyday low price are helping meet their needs.”
The nation’s biggest supermarket chain booked an 18 per cent lift in net profit to $1.14 billion in the year to June 28. Excluding significant items, which included a $710 million provision to right an historical staff underpayments bungle, net profit would have hit $1.6b.
Group revenue jumped 3.6 per cent to $71.5b.
But the real star of the show was its wildly popular Ooshies collectibles campaign, which drove a near 8 per cent surge in sales in the first eight weeks of the 2027 financial year.
Rival Coles on Tuesday conceded Woolworths’ Ooshies promotion kept a lid on sales growth as it entered the new financial year.
Writedowns take a slice out of Domino’s
Domino’s Pizza has slumped to a $134.2 million loss for the full-year as the chain stuggles through a bruising company reset.
Revenue tumbled 11.2 per cent to $2.05 billion as group same store sales declined 4.7 per cent across Australia and New Zealand, 2.2 per cent in Europe and 6.7 per cent in Asia.
On a brighter note, underlying net profit rose 4 per cent to $121.6m, in line with guidance, and franchisee profitability for the 12 months to the third quarter improved 11.3 per cent on a constant currency basis to $105,700 per store.
Chair, and Hungry Jack’s founder, Jack Cowin noted he had said a year ago that success would be measured by the ability of Domino’s franchise partners to earn a proper return.

“That remains the standard I hold this business to, and it is the standard against which I would ask shareholders to read this year’s result,” he said.
“We have made a deliberate decision to prioritise franchise partner profitability; to grow margins on our sales and reduce the reliance on discounting.
“Measured against what we set out to do, we delivered, but I stress we have more work to do.”
Mr Cowin said the full-year loss was blamed on significant non‑recurring items recognised following a comprehensive review of the group’s balance sheet and operations.
The majority of the items were non‑cash and included impairments and write‑downs relating to France and Taiwan, technology assets and underperforming corporate stores.”
Mr Cowin — the biggest shareholder of Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, which operates 3500 stores in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe — has been embroiled in a long-running stand-off with his Nasdaq-listed master franchisor, Domino’s Pizza over his move to ditch discounts.
Mr Cowin had previously said he would not apologise to the chain’s US parent for moving the business away from heavy discounting, and that it would continue to sacrifice short-term royalties in favour of sustained growth.
Wiluna Mining wields axes ahead of ASX return
Wiluna Mining’s hopes for a $200 million initial public offering within weeks have taken a hit as the company slashes staff and struggles to fix broken equipment.
The gold play’s latest battle follows the rupture of a carbon-in-leach tank in July that led to processing being suspended.
It comes as Wiluna pursues a promised relisting to the ASX by the end of the September quarter after collapsing into administration in 2022.
The business was only brought back to life at the end of 2025 amid a tailwind from a hot gold price above $US4000 an ounce.
Shareholders were told on Tuesday that Wiluna would not spend money on the tanks, which meant tailings reprocessing can’t be restarted. Plans to mill third-party ore have also been suspended.
The company has cut jobs but did not reveal exactly how many staff were axed in the “restructure”. A spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about how many workers were axed.
Read more here ...
SeaLink Rottnest business to stay with Kelsian
Kelsian Group will retain its SeaLink Rottnest ferry business under plans to offload the group’s entire tourism portfolio to Journey Beyond.
Kelsian first revealed the $161 million deal in February but there were concerns the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission may raise a red flag.
The watchdog has been assessing the transaction with and without the inclusion of the Rottnest business, which would strip $15.2m from the deal.
Kelsian this morning said the parties had agreed not to proceed with the sale of SeaLink Rottnest.
“SeaLink Rottnest is a profitable standalone, commuter ferry business with a strong brand,” said Kelsian CEO Graeme Legh.
“Kelsian intends to continue to operate SeaLink Rottnest alongside its other marine ferry operations across Australia, including the Transperth commuter ferry operation in Western Australia, which was not part of the original tourism portfolio sale.
“Having removed SeaLink Rottnest from the transaction perimeter, we are confident we have acompelling case for ACCC approval of the remaining tourism portfolio transaction. We continue to expect the sale to complete in 1HFY27.”
The deal also remains subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
Flight Centre cops $60m fourth quarter Middle East war hit as travellers changed plans
Flight Centre says it is seeing a strong rebound in leisure travel after its bottom line took a big hit from conflict in the Middle East during the June quarter.
The US and Israel war on Iran sent travellers scrambling to change their plans, costing the company about $60 million, its full-year results on Wednesday showed.
Still, profit improved across most metrics despite the escalating Middle East tensions, with statutory net profit rising 38 per cent to $149m. Underlying profit before tax eased four per cent to $278m.
Chief executive and founder Graham “Skroo” Turner said 2025-26 was “a story of mixed fortunes” for the company, with nine months of strong momentum and progress interrupted by three months of external disruption that left profit broadly in line with the prior financial year.
“Through the first three quarters we were tracking well ahead of the prior year in both leisure and corporate,” Mr Turner said.
“Then, in Q4, the Middle East conflict disrupted travel patterns.
“That was an external shock, not a change in the leisure business’s underlying strength, and momentum is already returning.”
The leisure business hit record total transaction value levels in July, surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 peak, and its strongest profit for the month since 2015.
The $200m profit Flight Centre had been on track to achieve remained “a viable, medium-term target given that travel downturns are historically short and followed by rapid rebounds”, Mr Turner said.
As usual for the company, earnings guidance for the current financial year will be provided at its annual general meeting in November.
Bellevue adds to board
Bellevue Gold has appointed two new board members under its previously announced succession plan.
Independent non-executive directors Debra Counsell and Tanya Rybarczyk will join the board from September 23.
Ms Counsell is a lawyer and former senior executive with more than 30
years’ global experience in mining and resources, heavy industry, infrastructure and energy. Most recently she was chief legal officer and company secretary at BlueScope Steel and also served on both of its joint venture boards.
Ms Rybarczyk is a chartered accountant with more than 30 years’ experience across finance, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and executive management.
She spent more than two decades with Wesfarmers, including as chief financial officer of Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers, general manager of CSBP Fertilisers and general manager of Kleenheat.
Ms Rybarczyk is currently a non-executive director of Synergy, Aquirian and the West
Australian Ballet Company.
The news comes as Shannon Coates revealed she does not intend to stand for re-election at this year’s annual general meeting.
Ooshies get Woolies off to flying star after solid year
Woolworths remains the king of Australia’s grocery market, booking a $1.14 billion profit from a solid jump in revenue during FY26 despite more cost-conscious shopping.
But the real star of the show has been its Ooshies collectibles campaign, which drove a near 8 per cent surge in sales in the first eight weeks of the new financial year.
Despite the “strong performance” of the promotion, CEO Amanda Bardwell warned customers were expected to remain value-focused in the year ahead.
“Wage growth is also expected to remain elevated by historical standards reflecting the current year’s annual wage increase of 4.75 per cent in Australia and progressive changes to pay for our 18 and 19-year-old retail team members,” she said.
“These cost pressures challenge us to be even more efficient, leveraging technology to be more productive in order to reinvest back into the business for our customers.”
Woolworths reported a 3.6 per cent rise in group-wide sales for the last financial year to $71.5b.
Net profit before significant items - which included a $710 million provision to right an historical staff underpayments bungle - was $1.6b.
Its grocery stores took in $53.8b, up 4.6 per cent. But its New Zealand stores continue to struggle, with sales down 3.1 per cent to $7.3b.
Perseus Mining shines in record year
A stunning gold price run throughout FY26 has delivered record results for cashed-up Perseus Mining.
The West Africa-focused miner this morning reported an after-tax profit of $480.5 million - up 14 per cent on the previous full year.
Revenue came in at $1.5 billion, a jump of 19 per cent as the precious metal touched record highs.
Perseus sold 399,023 ounce during the year, a fall from FY25’s 494,343oz. But that was more than offset by a 45 per cent jump in the average realised price per ounce to $3693.
The Subiaco-based company now holds $1.03b in cash, along with $400m of undrawn debt.
It declared a final payout of 9c a share, taking the full-year dividend to a record 14c a share, up 87 per cent on a year earlier.
“FY26 was also a year of major project momentum with our Nyanzaga gold project in Tanzania on track for first gold pour in January 2027 and the achievement of first gold pour from the CMA underground in Côte d’Ivoire,” said MD Craig James.
“Our mineral resource and ore reserve update released today demonstrates Perseus’s ongoing ability to grow its resources, with a 37 per cent increase in measured and indicated resources and a 40 per cent increase in proved and probable reserves compared to FY25.”
The Perseus board is also considering an additional distribution of $100m to recognise the additional proceeds received from the recent sale of the Meyas Sands gold project in Sudan.
Oil extends loses as Iran-Oman push talks to reopen Hormuz
Oil extended declines as Iran and Oman discussed an “interim framework” aimed at resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
West Texas Intermediate traded near $US81 a barrel after falling about 6 per cent in the previous three sessions, while Brent closed below $US89 on Tuesday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi discussed the initiative to establish a “temporary joint maritime corridor”, according to a joint statement carried by the Oman News Agency.
Technical talks between the two sides will continue with the aim of agreeing on a permanent maritime corridor, the future administration of the strait, as well as a mechanism for information exchange, traffic management, and the provision of relevant maritime and security services, it said.
Investors have largely shrugged off US plans released on Monday to increase economic pressure on Iran, with Washington stopping short of secondary sanctions on trading partners including China, the top buyer of Iranian crude.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said countries will face a specific timeline to shut down links with Iran or face unilateral punishment.
“It seems crude is now beginning to price in a sooner rather than later peace deal,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice-president for trading at BOK Financial Securities.
“With some oil still getting through the strait, Iran and the US are more likely to be in a newer state of de-escalation as both sides are looking for an off ramp.”
Bloomberg
While you were sleeping ...
Wall Street’s main indexes have closed higher as technology stocks recovered from a selloff ahead of AI heavyweight Nvidia’s results, while investors found some relief in drops in oil prices and bond yields.
The gains could ease investor concerns sparked by a recent bond market rout that lifted yields and pressured equities. They could also help set the tone for September, a historically weaker month for stocks.
Longer-dated Treasury yields fell on Tuesday as oil prices dropped to a one-week low and traders continued to weigh the implications of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s decision to expand Treasury buybacks.
“There’s a lot of push and pull - in the bond market, geopolitics, oil,” said Joe Quinlan, head of market strategy for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank.
“But we’re pretty constructive on the outlook (for the) next 12, 18 months on the US economy; therefore, we are constructive on the markets as well.”
Nvidia’s results on Wednesday will be the next test for the earnings-driven rally. Any signs of slowing growth could reignite concerns about stretched valuations and how long the AI boom can sustain them.
“This is the classic problem of being the epicenter of the buildout - when you are the trade, execution stops being a catalyst and becomes a prerequisite,” said Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert Financial.
Markets have grown wary of cyclical spending and the methods hyperscalers are using to fund their AI buildouts.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 160.24 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 53,577.40, the S&P 500 gained 24.38 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 7677.24 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 171.11 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 26,151.30.
Read the full overnight report here ...
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